With news of car bombings and sectarian violence dominating news out of Iraq every day, 32 deaths wouldn't even seem to make a dent in the toll there this year. But 32 journalists have died in Iraq since January 1, according to a Committee to Protect Journalists special report. That makes 2006 the deadliest year for journalists in any country the organization has ever recorded. What's more, the New York-based organization reports that most of these deaths are murders, not just accidental, caught-in-the crossfire deaths.
It's more than just a troubling sign of the downward spiral in the country. It's a sign that the most important stories—good and bad—will be reported less thoroughly and adequately. Take the lengths CBS News reporter Elizabeth Palmer (no relation) recently said she and other correspondents have resorted to:
We now have the 15-minute rule: We never stay anywhere longer than 15 minutes."
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